THE COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE COACH

Mental Health professionals serve as Coaches and Child Specialists. Some may serve as a Coach in one team/case and as a Child Specialist in another. These professionals can be licensed psychologists holding Masters or Doctorate degrees, or licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or Masters in social work.

In Collaborative Practice, mental health professionals do not serve as therapists, but rather as counselors, assisting clients with the emotional aspects of divorce and helping faciliTate the resolution of conflicts in the process.

Susan Schroeder, LPC discusses the role of the mental health specialist as a Coach or Child Specialist in the Collaborative Process.

The Divorce Coach has experience working with adults and families facing the challenges of major life transitions. The Coach brings skills in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, co-parenting, and stress or emotional management.

The Divorce Coach helps each client individually, and in meetings with the spouse and his/her coach, by addressing the ‘human side’ of divorce. The Divorce Coach assures that each spouse has the opportunity to tell his/her story, identify possible conflicts, and help the client to express goals, needs, and desires in a safe environment.